What Does Genesis 42:7 Mean in the King James?
And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Hebrew root names Joseph recognizing his brothers and making himself a stranger to them, joining knowing and concealment in one word-family.
THE MEANING
Recognition can be real while its expression stays hidden: Joseph recognizes his brothers, yet meets them as a stranger. His question makes kinship sound like interrogation, and their answer names a place and a need, Canaan, for food. Here, being known does not yet mean being received.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that someone who recognizes you will immediately show that recognition or receive you warmly: Joseph knows his brothers while hiding that truth behind a stranger’s posture.
THE ROOT
וַיַּכִּרֵם
vayyakirem
GROWS FROM
נכר
To recognize or distinguish; in the reflexive form, to present oneself as a stranger.
“knew / made himself strange” in this verse is vayyakirem. English separates “knew” and “made himself strange,” but the Hebrew uses two forms of נכר. Recognition and strangeness belong to the same word-family, binding Joseph’s knowledge and concealment in the wording itself.
ALSO GROWS
hikkir: Recognize, identify.
הִכִּיר
This verb form names Joseph recognizing his brothers; his knowledge is specific recognition of who they are.
nokhri: Foreigner, stranger.
נָכְרִי
This related form names a stranger, illuminating how Joseph takes on a stranger’s posture toward people he recognizes.
THE PATTERN
Recognition can be complete on one side while remaining obscured on the other.
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.THE THREAD
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.Verse 8 repeats נכר on both sides: Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. The same root that marks his recognition also sits beneath the strangeness hiding his identity.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us